well that was ten like many other kids my favorite part of school was the
my favorite part of school was the
my favorite part of school was the weekends yeah I didn’t like to really
weekends yeah I didn’t like to really
weekends yeah I didn’t like to really sit around and watch TV or goof around
sit around and watch TV or goof around
sit around and watch TV or goof around at all really what I like to do is
at all really what I like to do is
at all really what I like to do is explore and my favorite place to explore
explore and my favorite place to explore
explore and my favorite place to explore was the grasslands and woods near our
was the grasslands and woods near our
was the grasslands and woods near our small cabin in Bowie Texas one day I was
small cabin in Bowie Texas one day I was
small cabin in Bowie Texas one day I was walking through those woods with my dad
walking through those woods with my dad
walking through those woods with my dad when boom the ground erupted below me
when boom the ground erupted below me
when boom the ground erupted below me the wind rushed past my hair I squeezed
the wind rushed past my hair I squeezed
the wind rushed past my hair I squeezed my eyes so tight I could only see white
my eyes so tight I could only see white
my eyes so tight I could only see white I thought I’d been bit by a rattlesnake
I thought I’d been bit by a rattlesnake
I thought I’d been bit by a rattlesnake maybe stepped on a landmine but I looked
maybe stepped on a landmine but I looked
maybe stepped on a landmine but I looked up towards my dad and he was laughing he
up towards my dad and he was laughing he
up towards my dad and he was laughing he said those were quail oh well I was
said those were quail oh well I was
said those were quail oh well I was hooked
hooked
hooked it’s that exhilaration that drove my
it’s that exhilaration that drove my
it’s that exhilaration that drove my passion for hunting well through high
passion for hunting well through high
passion for hunting well through high school and it’s one of the things I miss
school and it’s one of the things I miss
school and it’s one of the things I miss most when I was in the Navy I couldn’t
most when I was in the Navy I couldn’t
most when I was in the Navy I couldn’t wait to get back home and hunt some
wait to get back home and hunt some
wait to get back home and hunt some quail but when I get home in 1996 all
quail but when I get home in 1996 all
quail but when I get home in 1996 all the quail in that area were gone that’s
the quail in that area were gone that’s
the quail in that area were gone that’s really what started my passion and while
really what started my passion and while
really what started my passion and while I’m here tonight I wanted to study quail
I’m here tonight I wanted to study quail
I’m here tonight I wanted to study quail in fact I got a PhD in quail and tonight
in fact I got a PhD in quail and tonight
in fact I got a PhD in quail and tonight I come to you as the nation’s quail
I come to you as the nation’s quail
I come to you as the nation’s quail professor where my job is talked to to
professor where my job is talked to to
professor where my job is talked to to talk to our nation’s farmers and
talk to our nation’s farmers and
talk to our nation’s farmers and ranchers about America’s greatest game
ranchers about America’s greatest game
ranchers about America’s greatest game bird my favorite game bird the bobwhite
bird my favorite game bird the bobwhite
bird my favorite game bird the bobwhite quail now you may not be as familiar
quail now you may not be as familiar
quail now you may not be as familiar with quail as I am and that’s okay
with quail as I am and that’s okay
with quail as I am and that’s okay because tonight what I want to share
because tonight what I want to share
because tonight what I want to share with you is not only why those quail are
with you is not only why those quail are
with you is not only why those quail are important to me and those farmers and
important to me and those farmers and
important to me and those farmers and ranchers but why they’re critically
ranchers but why they’re critically
ranchers but why they’re critically important to you I call quail the canary
important to you I call quail the canary
important to you I call quail the canary of the Prairie and you probably recall
of the Prairie and you probably recall
of the Prairie and you probably recall before ventilation was a thing those
before ventilation was a thing those
before ventilation was a thing those coal miners used to place Canaries and
coal miners used to place Canaries and
coal miners used to place Canaries and cages and set them along the mine shafts
cages and set them along the mine shafts
cages and set them along the mine shafts as long as they could see that canary
as long as they could see that canary
as long as they could see that canary move or hear that canary sing they knew
move or hear that canary sing they knew
move or hear that canary sing they knew their air was safe to breathe but a
their air was safe to breathe but a
their air was safe to breathe but a silent dead canary and something was
silent dead canary and something was
silent dead canary and something was wrong
wrong
wrong their environment had become unsafe well
their environment had become unsafe well
their environment had become unsafe well quail or the canary of the Prairie they
quail or the canary of the Prairie they
quail or the canary of the Prairie they live in our nation’s prairies and
live in our nation’s prairies and
live in our nation’s prairies and grasslands and just like that canary
grasslands and just like that canary
grasslands and just like that canary they’re very sensitive to environmental
they’re very sensitive to environmental
they’re very sensitive to environmental change the key environmental factor for
change the key environmental factor for
change the key environmental factor for quail is tall grass and thousands of
quail is tall grass and thousands of
quail is tall grass and thousands of acres of it now that tall grass is
acres of it now that tall grass is
acres of it now that tall grass is important to quail because it protects
important to quail because it protects
important to quail because it protects them from predators like hawks and
them from predators like hawks and
them from predators like hawks and bobcats and that tall grass is important
bobcats and that tall grass is important
bobcats and that tall grass is important to me in you because it cleans the air
to me in you because it cleans the air
to me in you because it cleans the air we breathe it filters the water we drink
we breathe it filters the water we drink
we breathe it filters the water we drink and it plays a critical role in
and it plays a critical role in
and it plays a critical role in sequestering carbon so quail are the
sequestering carbon so quail are the
sequestering carbon so quail are the Canaries of the Prairie and as long as
Canaries of the Prairie and as long as
Canaries of the Prairie and as long as those populations are moving along and
those populations are moving along and
those populations are moving along and singing their famous song
singing their famous song
singing their famous song everything’s gonna be alright but a
everything’s gonna be alright but a
everything’s gonna be alright but a silent dead quail population I mean
silent dead quail population I mean
silent dead quail population I mean something’s wrong and our grasslands are
something’s wrong and our grasslands are
something’s wrong and our grasslands are unhealthy
unhealthy
unhealthy well quail have been telling us that
well quail have been telling us that
well quail have been telling us that something’s wrong for quite some time if
something’s wrong for quite some time if
something’s wrong for quite some time if you look at the graph of their
you look at the graph of their
you look at the graph of their populations you can see they’ve declined
populations you can see they’ve declined
populations you can see they’ve declined 80 percent since 1967 and if I can draw
80 percent since 1967 and if I can draw
80 percent since 1967 and if I can draw you back just for a second back to 1996
you back just for a second back to 1996
you back just for a second back to 1996 you’ll see that we had lost well over
you’ll see that we had lost well over
you’ll see that we had lost well over half our quail by that time if we can
half our quail by that time if we can
half our quail by that time if we can visualize that year you’ll see that
visualize that year you’ll see that
visualize that year you’ll see that quail it waned in the Northeast and only
quail it waned in the Northeast and only
quail it waned in the Northeast and only high densities existed in the Midwest we
high densities existed in the Midwest we
high densities existed in the Midwest we were worried then but fast forward seven
were worried then but fast forward seven
were worried then but fast forward seven years and you’ll see those high
years and you’ll see those high
years and you’ll see those high densities are gone fast forward seven
densities are gone fast forward seven
densities are gone fast forward seven more and you’ll start to see holes in
more and you’ll start to see holes in
more and you’ll start to see holes in the population now this last graph is
the population now this last graph is
the population now this last graph is from only two years ago and you can see
from only two years ago and you can see
from only two years ago and you can see quail or gone in those northern states
quail or gone in those northern states
quail or gone in those northern states and if you draw a line from Pennsylvania
and if you draw a line from Pennsylvania
and if you draw a line from Pennsylvania down to East Texas those states are
down to East Texas those states are
down to East Texas those states are probably next quail of becoming silent
probably next quail of becoming silent
probably next quail of becoming silent and they’re telling us something’s wrong
and they’re telling us something’s wrong
and they’re telling us something’s wrong they’re telling us our grasslands are
they’re telling us our grasslands are
they’re telling us our grasslands are unhealthy and going away in fact in 2014
unhealthy and going away in fact in 2014
unhealthy and going away in fact in 2014 we lost more acres of grassland to
we lost more acres of grassland to
we lost more acres of grassland to agriculture then the Amazon rainforest
agriculture then the Amazon rainforest
agriculture then the Amazon rainforest did two deforestation and hardly a word
did two deforestation and hardly a word
did two deforestation and hardly a word was mentioned so what’s the culprit
was mentioned so what’s the culprit
was mentioned so what’s the culprit grass of course right it’s more
grass of course right it’s more
grass of course right it’s more important more profitable for those
important more profitable for those
important more profitable for those farmers and ranchers to put that into
farmers and ranchers to put that into
farmers and ranchers to put that into food and save some grass for some little
food and save some grass for some little
food and save some grass for some little bird can’t fault them for that however
bird can’t fault them for that however
bird can’t fault them for that however the typical result of conventional
the typical result of conventional
the typical result of conventional farming and ranching looks something
farming and ranching looks something
farming and ranching looks something like this where the ground is plowed and
like this where the ground is plowed and
like this where the ground is plowed and the grass is grazed down to the ground
the grass is grazed down to the ground
the grass is grazed down to the ground not one bobwhite would survive little to
not one bobwhite would survive little to
not one bobwhite would survive little to no carbon would be sequestered there and
no carbon would be sequestered there and
no carbon would be sequestered there and if rain did fall on that ground it would
if rain did fall on that ground it would
if rain did fall on that ground it would surely runoff or erode that ground and
surely runoff or erode that ground and
surely runoff or erode that ground and farmers and ranchers would have to spend
farmers and ranchers would have to spend
farmers and ranchers would have to spend a lot of money on things like pesticides
a lot of money on things like pesticides
a lot of money on things like pesticides and fertilizer for regrowth my research
and fertilizer for regrowth my research
and fertilizer for regrowth my research shows that those pesticides they’re very
shows that those pesticides they’re very
shows that those pesticides they’re very detrimental to quail and human health so
detrimental to quail and human health so
detrimental to quail and human health so what do we do you ask we could start by
what do we do you ask we could start by
what do we do you ask we could start by growing some taller grass but to do that
growing some taller grass but to do that
growing some taller grass but to do that we’d need to change the face of
we’d need to change the face of
we’d need to change the face of Agriculture and as I travel around the
Agriculture and as I travel around the
Agriculture and as I travel around the country as the nation’s quail professor
country as the nation’s quail professor
country as the nation’s quail professor I see through rules three real solutions
I see through rules three real solutions
I see through rules three real solutions to do this the first is grazing that’s
to do this the first is grazing that’s
to do this the first is grazing that’s right if you want more grass graze it
right if you want more grass graze it
right if you want more grass graze it but do it with regenerative grazing
but do it with regenerative grazing
but do it with regenerative grazing regenerative grazing is a little
regenerative grazing is a little
regenerative grazing is a little different than your conventional grazing
different than your conventional grazing
different than your conventional grazing it takes those big pastures and divides
it takes those big pastures and divides
it takes those big pastures and divides them into smaller ones it takes those
them into smaller ones it takes those
them into smaller ones it takes those cattles and puts them into one big herd
cattles and puts them into one big herd
cattles and puts them into one big herd that one big herd moves around those
that one big herd moves around those
that one big herd moves around those small pastures over the duration of the
small pastures over the duration of the
small pastures over the duration of the year allowing those recently grazed
year allowing those recently grazed
year allowing those recently grazed areas to rest and grow back their grass
areas to rest and grow back their grass
areas to rest and grow back their grass that one big herd presses the manure and
that one big herd presses the manure and
that one big herd presses the manure and urine into the ground an X is natural
urine into the ground an X is natural
urine into the ground an X is natural fertilizer this grows back the grass
fertilizer this grows back the grass
fertilizer this grows back the grass really fast and you get a quicker return
really fast and you get a quicker return
really fast and you get a quicker return on your clean air you’re filtered water
on your clean air you’re filtered water
on your clean air you’re filtered water and you’re sequestered carbon this
and you’re sequestered carbon this
and you’re sequestered carbon this picture you’re looking at is from 2011
picture you’re looking at is from 2011
picture you’re looking at is from 2011 in Texas on a regenerative grazing side
in Texas on a regenerative grazing side
in Texas on a regenerative grazing side it was the year of our worst drought but
it was the year of our worst drought but
it was the year of our worst drought but you can see on this site we had
you can see on this site we had
you can see on this site we had everything we’re looking for
everything we’re looking for
everything we’re looking for we had tall grass lots of quail no
we had tall grass lots of quail no
we had tall grass lots of quail no monetary loss for the landowner and good
monetary loss for the landowner and good
monetary loss for the landowner and good health benefits for me and you
health benefits for me and you
health benefits for me and you now the second solution I see you may
now the second solution I see you may
now the second solution I see you may find a little shocking I think we need
find a little shocking I think we need
find a little shocking I think we need more quail hunting I know I know it may
more quail hunting I know I know it may
more quail hunting I know I know it may seem counterintuitive to most of you
seem counterintuitive to most of you
seem counterintuitive to most of you that if you want more quail hunt them
that if you want more quail hunt them
that if you want more quail hunt them but conservation be it for wildlife for
but conservation be it for wildlife for
but conservation be it for wildlife for quail for grasslands is almost entirely
quail for grasslands is almost entirely
quail for grasslands is almost entirely funded by hunters hunters have placed a
funded by hunters hunters have placed a
funded by hunters hunters have placed a voluntary tax on themselves so for every
voluntary tax on themselves so for every
voluntary tax on themselves so for every sale of a gun a bullet a hunting license
sale of a gun a bullet a hunting license
sale of a gun a bullet a hunting license those taxes are directly returned to
those taxes are directly returned to
those taxes are directly returned to conservation now my research shows that
conservation now my research shows that
conservation now my research shows that a private landowner would be very wise
a private landowner would be very wise
a private landowner would be very wise to invest in quail hunting it’s part of
to invest in quail hunting it’s part of
to invest in quail hunting it’s part of a 2.8 billion dollar upland game bird
a 2.8 billion dollar upland game bird
a 2.8 billion dollar upland game bird industry and quail hunters plays a major
industry and quail hunters plays a major
industry and quail hunters plays a major role they spend nine thousand dollars a
role they spend nine thousand dollars a
role they spend nine thousand dollars a year per hunter and that comes out to
year per hunter and that comes out to
year per hunter and that comes out to two hundred and forty three dollars per
two hundred and forty three dollars per
two hundred and forty three dollars per bird that’s a major incentive for that
bird that’s a major incentive for that
bird that’s a major incentive for that landowner to grow more grass have more
landowner to grow more grass have more
landowner to grow more grass have more quail but a little money at his pocket
quail but a little money at his pocket
quail but a little money at his pocket and provide health benefits for me and
and provide health benefits for me and
and provide health benefits for me and you now this third solution is a little
you now this third solution is a little
you now this third solution is a little more complex and it’s a call for quail
more complex and it’s a call for quail
more complex and it’s a call for quail corridors now quail corridors are vast
corridors now quail corridors are vast
corridors now quail corridors are vast expanses of grass lands so that quail
expanses of grass lands so that quail
expanses of grass lands so that quail can move freely and we’d have that tall
can move freely and we’d have that tall
can move freely and we’d have that tall grass if you take a look at the amount
grass if you take a look at the amount
grass if you take a look at the amount of public land we have in the United
of public land we have in the United
of public land we have in the United States and then you overlay the
States and then you overlay the
States and then you overlay the grasslands and then you slowly take them
grasslands and then you slowly take them
grasslands and then you slowly take them away what you’ll see is that about 90%
away what you’ll see is that about 90%
away what you’ll see is that about 90% of our grasslands are privately owned
of our grasslands are privately owned
of our grasslands are privately owned and those good ranches are very sporadic
and those good ranches are very sporadic
and those good ranches are very sporadic in that area so I propose we connect
in that area so I propose we connect
in that area so I propose we connect them building these big grassland
them building these big grassland
them building these big grassland corridors with public land paid for by
corridors with public land paid for by
corridors with public land paid for by those conservation tax dollars it would
those conservation tax dollars it would
those conservation tax dollars it would certainly get our grasslands put it back
certainly get our grasslands put it back
certainly get our grasslands put it back in the right direction start building
in the right direction start building
in the right direction start building them back and it would meet all our
them back and it would meet all our
them back and it would meet all our requirements
requirements
requirements we’d have tall grass lots of quail a
we’d have tall grass lots of quail a
we’d have tall grass lots of quail a little money in the pocket for those
little money in the pocket for those
little money in the pocket for those involved and you know the health
involved and you know the health
involved and you know the health benefits by now would have cleaner air
benefits by now would have cleaner air
benefits by now would have cleaner air cleaner water and more sequestered
cleaner water and more sequestered
cleaner water and more sequestered carbon well if you’re not a landowner or
carbon well if you’re not a landowner or
carbon well if you’re not a landowner or a policymaker
a policymaker
a policymaker I’m sure you’re wondering what can you
I’m sure you’re wondering what can you
I’m sure you’re wondering what can you do I say be like the ten year old Kelly
do I say be like the ten year old Kelly
do I say be like the ten year old Kelly go out there and explore those beautiful
go out there and explore those beautiful
go out there and explore those beautiful grasslands get involved take a kid take
grasslands get involved take a kid take
grasslands get involved take a kid take them hunting be the next grassland hero
them hunting be the next grassland hero
them hunting be the next grassland hero of course you could donate to our
of course you could donate to our
of course you could donate to our research at the University of North
research at the University of North
research at the University of North Texas but you know the message now we
Texas but you know the message now we
Texas but you know the message now we need vast expanses of healthy grassland
need vast expanses of healthy grassland
need vast expanses of healthy grassland and your health is in the hands of our
and your health is in the hands of our
and your health is in the hands of our nation farmers and ranchers we can
nation farmers and ranchers we can
nation farmers and ranchers we can change the face of Agriculture and quail
change the face of Agriculture and quail
change the face of Agriculture and quail what you know now are just a messenger
what you know now are just a messenger
what you know now are just a messenger the canary if you will and if we can
the canary if you will and if we can
the canary if you will and if we can save them even if it’s one quail at a
save them even if it’s one quail at a
save them even if it’s one quail at a time we can save the help of all
time we can save the help of all
time we can save the help of all Americans thank you
Americans thank you
Americans thank you [Applause]
”
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